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May 6, 2008

Ambulances get meds, equipment to protect vs. attack

The state Emergency Management Agency, partnering with the state Department of Health, has begun delivering $533,000 worth of equipment and medications for licensed ambulances to protect patients and emergency workers in an attack or hazardous materials incident.

Equipment includes powered air purifying respirators, chemical protective clothing, gloves and boots, and tape. Medical supplies include 280 cyanide antidote kits and 2,250 nerve agent antidote kits.

Federal grants are paying for the equipment/supplies and the EMA is delivering the materials in partnership with the state Department of Health, according to an Emergency Management Agency news release,

The materials "provide a significant upgrade to our Homeland Security Program" in Rhode Island, the release says, adding that the materials are "critical to protect responders and patients" were there an attack using weapons of mass destruction or an industrial hazardous materials incident.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 12:16 PM | Permalink

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